Farnhamville man charged with desecration of corpse

A 21-year-old Farnhamville man has now been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 17-year-old girl in the northwest Iowa town.The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday night that Nathaniel Bevers-McGivney is charged with first-degree murder. Earlier Tuesday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation identified the girl as Michele “Luna” Jackson.Previous storyAn Iowa man is charged with desecration of a corpse – concealing known whereabouts in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old girl in Farnhamville.Court documents say 21-year-old Nathaniel Bevers-McGivney of Farnhamville is being held in the Carroll County Jail. The criminal complaint states that just before 11 p.m. Sunday, a woman contacted the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office to report her daughter missing. She and her other daughter were walking, searching for the missing daughter, when they came across Bevers-McGivney, who was “apparently covered in blood” and carrying the missing daughter's scooter and other personal items. According to the criminal complaint, when questioned by police about the blood on his clothing, Bevers-McGivney demanded to speak with an attorney. He was arrested and taken to the Carroll County Jail while the investigation continued. The missing girl's body was found shortly after 9 a.m. Monday. The criminal complaint states that the location where the girl's body was found “suggests that Bevers-McGivney intentionally hid the body” to cover up a crime and that he did not disclose the location with the intent to cover up a crime. It is unclear if additional charges are pending. An officer with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation previously confirmed to KCCI that a person is in custody in connection with the death of a 17-year-old girl. KCCI had previously been told that authorities in Calhoun County were searching for a missing girl. The girl's body was found in Farnhamville. Authorities cordoned off Farnhamville City Park with crime scene tape, where more than a dozen trail markers marked possible leads for investigators. KCCI discovered obvious blood stains on the ground in the park as officers investigated the area. Officers from the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and Greene County Sheriff's Office, as well as DCI, were on scene. In an email to parents Monday, Southeast Valley School District officials said, “We are all saddened to hear of the tragic death of a Jaguar High School student. Out of respect for the feelings of those affected, all district competitions and practices for this afternoon and evening (September 23, 2024) are canceled. Counseling services are available for those needing assistance. Please call your attendance center for a referral.” The school district has buildings in Farnhamville, Dayton, Burnside and Gowrie. Southeast Valley Superintendent Brian Johnson sent out another statement late Monday afternoon: “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of a tragic loss in our school community. We have been informed of the death of a Southeast Valley High School student and our thoughts are with the family and friends during this unimaginable time. All of us at Southeast Valley Schools care deeply about our students, and we know this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone. In times of loss like these, we must come together to support one another – whether it is through comforting conversations, a shoulder to lean on or by seeking the help we need. Our school counselors are available to assist any students affected by this event, whether they knew the student personally or if it brings back memories of other losses. Please contact your school building's counseling center or the main office if you would like to speak with a school counselor or local clergy member. I encourage everyone to be sensitive to the student's family and friends and keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Additionally, it's important to remember to seek support for yourself if you are struggling. We are all in the same boat and no one should feel alone during this time. Residents in the town of 400 are shocked Monday night and told KCCI that this type of violence is not common there. “We never have crimes like this,” Farnhamville resident Clayton Robey told KCCI. “Like always.” “This is a small town in the U.S.,” resident Teri Olson said. “In a small town, you don't hear about this kind of thing. That's why we moved here.” Read more reactions from neighbors here.This is a developing story. KCCI will update this article as more information becomes available.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI